Soto, 23, rose from the ranks as a virtual unknown to become the Bellator featherweight champion in the organization's first season with victories over Yahir Reyes, Wilson Reis and Ben Greer.

The native of Porterville, Calif., has since earned a win by gogoplata (a shin choke hold) under the Tachi Palace Fights banner and returned to Bellator for a non-title TKO win over UFC veteran Diego Saraiva.

Eight of his victories have come either by submission or TKO, which has earned him the nickname “The Hammer.”

“I got that fighting for an organization in California,” Soto said. “I was hoping for something more original. But I'll take it.”

Soto said his fight against the challenger Warren, Bellator's Season 2 tournament champ, “is going to be exciting.”

“No way it's going to be a boring fight,” he said.

A Denver native, Warren, 33, is a former world champion Greco-Roman wrestler who began his MMA career with the Japanese-based DREAM organization where he went 2-1, including a stunning split-decision victory over Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto, before joining Bellator.

“This is a high-prestige fight,” Rebney said. “San Antonio is in for a treat.”

The first Bellator card May 27 drew about 1,000 fans to the Majestic. Rebney said he's hoping for about 2,300 this time.